By Derrick Silimina
The Business clinic for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is currently underway in Kalumbila district of north western province.
The three days event from 4-6 November 2023 aims to unlock new opportunities for the Kalumbila district business community the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and the First Quantum Minerals Trident Foundation Limited have forged an action plan with more impactful activities, events and capacity building programmes.
Officiating at the event, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Elias Mubanga said ZDA and FQM TFL’s initiative to host the second business clinic will go a long way in helping small businesses to grow.
“We truly believe in the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses in our communities as they are key drivers in the development of our communities, improving livelihoods and the much needed growth of our economy. From the onset, the government encouraged collaborations between the government and the private sector through the ‘Public, Private Partnerships (PPP),” Mubanga said.
And in a bid to nurture the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, ZDA Assistant Director Samson Simwanda noted that the primary objective of the business clinic aligns perfectly with the Agency’s vision.
“We are dedicated to nurturing a vibrant ecosystem where innovation flourishes, business thrives and economic prosperity becomes a reality for every Zambian. Events like this are instrumental in providing participants with the knowledge, tools, and networks necessary to navigate the complexities of the business world,” Simwanda said.
Meanwhile, FQM Trident Limited Assistant General Manager Frederic Wouters acknowledged that FQML recognises that people and communities affected by the mining business should benefit through opportunities such as employment, business development, education, training or community investment over the long term.
The second edition of the Kalumbila business clinic is held under the theme, “Sustainable Partnerships for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Growth,” brings together a diverse range of institutions including the Patents and Companies Registration (PACRA), Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) Workers Compensation Fund Control Board, and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIMA) among others.
